Chairman’s report AGM 2024

Looking back over the year I am always amazed by what our relatively small society and committee of volunteers achieves. Here is a quick review of the Society’s activies over last year. Since our last AGM we have published two copies of our magazine Heritage News (with one more ready to go to print later this month). Our talks and events programme kicked off in September with a joint launch with Merlin Unwin books of a new edition of A Shropshire Lad in the Church. This was followed later that month with a splendid symposium organised by Rosemary Wood and others on the history of Lower Corve Street. We are pleased to say that the second edition of Rosemary and Jonathan’s Woods book which the society supported has completley sold out.

The usual programme of talks began in October and covered such topics as Coaching Inns, the Theatrical Kembles, Five Centuries of Women gardeners, the restoration of Wakefield’s navigation warehouse, and as a much apprciated last minute replacement the Palmers’ Window of St Laurences. Personally I was sad to miss the Corve Street Forum but having attended all the others and I think we are most fortunate in the quality of speakers we have attracted. In additon to this we have three excursions over the year: to Hay Castle and Clifford Castle; to Wroxeter Roman city; and most recently to Wenlock Abbey and Priory. Our programme of information boards announced a couple of years ago also took another step forward with the ercetion of a new board outside Castle Lodge. Given the building work a few feet away I keep a close eye on its condtion and so far it is unscathed and I see many visitors poring over it.

As I often say I like to think of the Society as having two main purposes: celebrating our local heritage and protecting it. The activities above of course fall into that first category. In termns of protecting our heritage we have only limted influence but nevertheless have not been idle. The Committee routinely inspects planning applications and makes comments through the Shropshire planning portal. However, you win some and you loose some. The Committee took the view that an application for 15 music events in the Castle from Powis Estates and the Leeds based Future Sounds was excessive given the noise impact on residents and the disruption to the town. We made representation to the Town Council. The Town Council also came to the same conclusion that a figure of 4 events was the acceptable maximum. The Civic Socierty, other residents and the Town Council rep. attended the licensing hearing at Shire Hall to make our case. It was a frustraing experience and eventually a committee of its seems just three councillors rejecetd the views of the Town Council and the Civic Society- permission was given for 8 events.

Members of the Committee have also attended various meetings about the state of the collapsed section of Ludlow’s walls. Sadly this time the town council has retreated behind its own wall and a policy of not saying anything and even rejecting request under freedom of information about its position. A lot now hinges on a meetings that we have been told have been organised by our MP Phillip Dunne. As yet we are not invited to these meetings but the time may come.

Finally we have some more positive news on the subject of cobbles. We have identified a contractor who is prepared to undertake repair to a sample section, have got the relevant section of Shopsire Council onside and we hope some work will start soon when the various permissions are obtained. Meanwhile we have almost finished a photographic survey of the state of Cobbles in the centre of the town. This is so that we have a reference document as evidence of their current state to hold to account any poor workmanship from contractors that periodically lift and replace the cobbles.

To conclude, all of the activities above don’t just happen - they are driven by people and I want to acknowldge the sterling efforts of all thise involved. So thanks to Jane Hunt, Gaye Smith , Sue Ashman and Ann Hedges for organising talks and visits; to Juliet Diamond for the minutes, poster production, pushing us forward on cobbles; to Peter Salter for scrutinising (with Juliet) planning applications and making our position known to Shropshire planning; to Stanton for handling much admin to do with Heritage News, to Werndy for handling our rather complex data base of members. Sadly both Sylvia Turner and Ian Bott and standing down this year from the Committee but we owe them thanks also for their efforts over the years.

In our work we are ably supported by Mark Ansell our graphic design contractor who as always has gone well beyong the call of duty over the last year. I go to a lot of lectures and talks around Ludlow and often there are glitches with the AV – it stops/ freezes, or won’t work at all. But there is one venue where the system is faultless – never a problem. I refer of course to here and the marvellous magic performed by Mike Owen at the back there.

We cope but my feeling is that the Committee is understaffed. So if you find one of us talking to you in an especially charming way praising your wisdom and all round competance -please don’t run away too quickly and consider any invitation to join that might follow.

Finally of course thanks to Bill Cawley for his vital work as treasurer and making sure we comply with Charity Comission requirements. And on that note over to Bill for the Treasurer’s report.


John Cartwright